Monday, February 11, 2013

SORSOGON
CITY, Feb 11 (PIA) – United Nations World Food Program (UN WFP) Project
Coordinator Michelle McGonagle for the first time will be in Sorsogon for a
three-day visit starting today until Wednesday.

McGonagle
will meet the officials and representatives of the Provincial Disaster Risk
Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC), local chief executives and the Municipal
DRRM Officers of the four highly vulnerable areas of Sorsogon and its various
stakeholders to determine progress of the World Food Programme (WFP) supported
Disaster Preparedness and Response (DPR) project implemented in the municipalities
of Juban, Irosin, Casiguran and Sta. Magdalena.

Provincial
Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (PDRRMO) Chief Raden Dimaano said the
stakeholder’s meeting, aside from determining the status of the DPR project
implementation, will also help identify plan of actions for the remaining
project timeline, address gaps and provide information to key stakeholders on
DPR initiatives in the area.

“Likewise,
the Municipal DRRM Officers will be given an orientation and discussion on the
radio communication protocol, and will be given the opportunity to have
consultation with the WFP’s project coordinator,” he added.

Following
a courtesy visit to Sorsogon Governor Raul R. Lee, and meeting with the local
DRRM officials, McGonagle will be moving around to the municipalities of Juban,
Irosin, Casiguran and Sta. Magdalena for a site visit and interaction with the
local communities.

Sorsogon
is one of the many areas covered by the WFP’s DPR Program being implemented in
close partnership with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD),
Department of Interior Local Government (DILG), Office of Civil Defense (OCD),
and the provincial and local governments.

WFP,
the world's largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide, rolled out
the Phase II of its programme dubbed as “Technical Support to the Government of
the Philippines for Disaster Preparedness and Response” (DPR Programme) in the four
identified disaster-prone areas of Sorsogon. This was launched in September
last year.

The
DPR Programme aims to build the resilience of vulnerable communities by
boosting capacity of its government, academe, and non-governmental partners.

For
Sorsogon project, the WFP tapped the expertise of Bicol University (BU) in
working with the target LGUs, communities, and families to come up with appropriate
family disaster plans and preparedness kits. It has also tapped the Green
Valley Development Inc. (GVDI) in advancing innovative DPR activities and in
promoting best practices.

The
Phase II of the DPR Programme includes organizing information and education
campaigns for communities on the risks they face, and the training of local
government units (LGUs) to use geographic information systems to enhance
preparedness and response planning.

“Sorsogon is highly vulnerable to natural
disasters such as typhoons, floods, landslides and volcanic eruptions, and this
vulnerability is one among the major challenges the province is facing. The DPR
project which strengthens capacities of the first responders is a big help to
Sorsogon communities to make them better prepare for, respond to natural
disasters and eventually save lives and properties,” says Gov. Raul R. Lee.

The
WFP has allotted over P20-M while its partners, the United States Agency for
International Development’s Office of US Foreign Disaster Assistance
(USAID/OFDA) and the Australian Aid Agency (AUSAID), have contributed over
P10-M in support to this initiative. (BARecebido, PIA Sorsogon)

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ViSioN MiSSioN

VISIONThe Office of the Communication Director is the lead communication arm of the Government and vehicle of understanding for a well-informed and enlightened citizenry, proud of its heritage and Attuned to the new global realities.

MISSIONTo develop and implement a comprehensive communication program which harnesses information technology and coordinates similar programs of other government agencies in communicating the Presidency and the Governmentto our people and to the international community, thus heightens public awareness and support for nation-building